Navy veteran Margaret Hanley was last seen inside her home in Jacksonville, Florida on Feb. 9.
She has not been seen or heard from since.
Her family, along with local police, are trying desperately to find the 72-year-old mother but have gotten few answers since her disappearance almost 10 days ago.
Trying to find Hanley has caused great emotional distress to her family, according to one of her sons, Jomo Thompson.
“My brother and sister, they’re distraught,” Thompson told First Coast News. “They’re not eating or sleeping very well. We just want to get our mom home.”
Concern grew for the family when they tried calling Hanley and couldn’t reach her. She apparently left with her vehicle sometime around Feb. 9.
Thompson sprang into action, filing a missing persons report with local police. He also checked his mother’s bank account and was alarmed at what he found. Hanley had been sending large payments to an unknown source, which Thompson said was “unusual and concerning.”
Possible Scam Being Investigated
Was the Navy veteran a victim of a scam?
“She’s a very friendly and smart person,” said Thompson. “I just don’t know how someone could’ve taken advantage of a person like that.”
Hanley owns a 2001 silver Toyota RAV4 and based on cell phone activity, the car traveled through the northern Florida cities of Gainesville and Starke. Hanley’s family drove to Starke and shared a photo of their mother with gas station attendants. In recent days, her cell phone has pinged in Hinesville, Georgia. Her debit card was also used at gas stations in Georgia on Feb. 12.
But Thompson said his mother is not known for driving much at all, especially out of state. She also suffers from short-term memory loss, according to Thompson.
“If you ask her what she had for lunch today, she might not remember that but if you ask her, ‘Hey, where you were 10 years ago?’ and she would say, ‘I was stationed here, I was stationed there.’”
Florida has a Silver Alert to help find missing seniors, especially those suffering from cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, the alert wouldn’t help if Hanley traveled outside the state.
Despite limited resources from law enforcement, Thompson and his siblings will continue to look for answers in their mother’s disappearance. Thompson has even reached out to a private investigator.
“I’ve been lost for words and don’t know what the next steps are,” Thompson said. “I’ve even reached out and hired a private investigator. I figured the more people looking and chasing down leads, the better.”
Friends, Past Shipmates Try to Help
Friends are also helping with the search, posting information, like Hanley’s missing persons poster, on Facebook. Anita Ramirez, who said she served with Hanley in the Navy, feels worried about her friend’s whereabouts.
“I had the honor of being stationed with this great lady at Naval Hospital Guam,” Ramirez said on Facebook. “She is a proud veteran, a strong leader, and a woman of integrity.”
Faith Community Church of Orange Park, also posted on Facebook, “Our dear friend, Margaret Hanley, a proud veteran and cherished extended member of our church family, has been reported missing. Margaret is known for their kindness, faith, and unwavering service to both our country and our community.”
In the meantime, Thompson said he will continue to track down leads and offer them to police. Anyone with information should contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
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